Method and apparatus for closing and tying bag tops



F. E. HILTON A ril 2, 1963 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYINGBAG TOPS Filed June 27, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FRANK E. HILTON Buckhorn, Chearham 8 Blore ATTORNEYS April 2, 1963 F. E.HILTON 3,083,512

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYING BAG TOPS Filed June 27, 19608 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8

FRANK E. HILTON Buckhorn, Cheofham a B/ore ATTORNEYS F. E. HILTON April2, 1963 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYING BAG TOPS Filed June27, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

FRANK E HILTON Buckhorn, Cheaiham 8 Blore A TTORNE YS A ril 2, 1963 F.E. HILTON 3,083,512

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYING BAG TOPS Filed June 2'7, 19608 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

FRANK E HILTON Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 B/ore ATTORNEYS Ap 2, 1963 F. E.HILTON 3,083,512

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYING BA'G TOPS Filed June 27;,1960 8 Sheets-$heet '5 INVENTOR.

FRANK E. HILTON Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 Blore ATTORNEYS April 963 F. E.mum, 3,983,512

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYLNG BAG TOPS Filed June 27, 19608 :Shee cs-Sheet 6 .FfRANK .E. HI'LTQN fBuc-khonn, @heatham '8 Blore P1963' F. E HILTON 3,083,512

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR cwsmc; AND mm; BAG TOPS Filed June 27, 1960 8Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. /9

Fig. 20

24s. 238 244 24 E II 242 21o \A m /i a 2'0 242 246 au! 244 Q 240 F7 I 24240 242 F/g. 24

INVENTOR.

' FRANK E. HILTON 5o BY Buckhorn, Cheafha 8 Blore Hg. 22 v ATTORNEYS F.E. HILTON April 2, 1963 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND TYING BAGTOPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 27, 1960 INVENTOR.

FRANK E. HILTON Fig. 25

Buckhorn, Cheafham 8 B/ore ATTORNEYS United States Patent a ContainersInc, Portland, Greg, a corporation of Gregon Fiied June 27, 196i), Ser.No. 33,987 14 Ciaims. (Cl. BBS- 13 The present invention relates tomethods and apparatus for gathering together compliant sheet materialand more particularly to methods and apparatus for positioning andtwisting ties about the tops of open mouth bags and like articles.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a machineof relatively simple, sturdy design for automatically positioning andtightening ties about the upper ends of filled, open mouth bags at arelatively high rate of speed.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a machinehaving means for gathering the top portion of an open mouth bag andpositioning and twisting a tie member thereabout so as to maintain thebag closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine forautomatically closing the top of a bag by gathering the same togetherand securing said top with a tie member comprising a malleable wirepositioned between opposite strips of paper, plastic or like sheetmaterial.

A still further object is to provide new and improved means forgathering together the top of a bag to enable closure of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved methodfor attaching a tie member to the top of a bag.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparenthereinafter.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, an openmouth bag is fed along a predetermined path into means which compressthe opposite sides of the bag and feed the bag lengthwise of thecompressed top against a tie member extending at right angles to thepath of the bag. The tie member is partially folded about the sides ofthe bag and its motion is arrested while the bag is fed lengthwise ofthe compressed top into the bight of the tie. Thereafter, the tie endsare brought together to wrap the same about the top and finally twistedtogether to secure the tie member about the bag top.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings and description thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an open mouth bag which hasbeen previously filled with merchandise and to which the tie member isto be secured in accordance with the method of the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing different successivesteps of the method of attachment of the tie to the bag shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the bag with the tie attached thereto;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a tie memberadapted for use in the present invention, one end of the device beingshown open more clearly to illustrate details thereof;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a machine made in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, elevational view of a portion of the machineshown in FIG. 7, certain parts being omitted;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally 3,083,512Patented Apr. 2, 1963 along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing certain detailsof the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of the apparatus showing the powermeans and drive assembly therefor;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the tie feeding apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a view of the tie feeding apparatus looking in the directionof the arrows 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of a portion of theapparatus of the invention showing its condition in the initial stagesof operation thereof;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing a further step in operationof the machine;

FIG. 15 is still another view of the machine showing it in the conditionwhere the bag has been gathered and the tie ends brought together toWrap the tie about the FIG. 16 is a view showing the condition of themachine after the tie ends have been twisted together to secure it inposition about the bag;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the condition of the machineafter the bag has been discharged from the same;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view of the machine taken generallyalong line 18-18 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the twisting mechanism utilized in theapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of the twisting mechanism;

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the twisting mechanism;

FIG. 22 is an end elevation of the twisting mechanism;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the head of the twistingmechanism showing it in one condition of operation thereof;

FIG. 24 is a further enlarged, sectional view of the twister headshowing it in another condition of operation;

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of the pneumatic circuit for effectingoperation of the machine of the invention; and

FIG. 26 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of a portion of themachine taken generally along the lines 26-26 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the tie guide taken alonglines 27-27 of FIG. 12.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is primarilyconcerned with closing and positioning of ties about the upper ends ofbags of paper, polyethylene and similar materials, and which have beenpreviously filled with produce, toys, or other merchandise. The

method of the present invention and which is carried out by the machineherein described is illustrated in part by the diagrammatic views ofFIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive and is further illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 17,inclusive. As shown in those views, open mouth bags 30 are fed along apredetermined path in the direction indicated. Pressure is applied atright angles to the direction of movement of the bag to the oppositesides of the bag at the top thereof so as to press such sides togetheras indicated at 32 in FIG. 2. A measured length of a tie 34 previouslysevered from a supply roll is fed in a direction at right angles to thepath of the bag and the bag is fed lengthwise of its compressed topagainst the tie. As this occurs the tie is partially doubled about thetop of the bag as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the feeding of the bagagainst the tie 34 is continued while the tie is held relativelystationary so as to cause the topof the bag to gather in the bight ofthe tie as shown at 36 in FIG. 4. Finally, the ends of the tie 34 arebrought together and twisted so as to secure the tie about the top ofthe bag as shown in FIG. 5.

While any suitable form of tying device may be used in carrying out themethod of the present invention, a

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 7, the bag t'ying apparatus ormachine of the invention is indicated generally at 50 and is shownmounted over a conveyor 52 upon which bags to be filled such asindicated by dotted lines at 30 may be carried one by one to the bagtying apparatus As will become apparent, the bag tying app'aratus neednot be associated with a conveyor, but, if desired, bags to be tied maybe fed thereto by hand or by other suitable apparatus not a part of thisinvention.

I, The bag tying machine may be supported on a suitable standard 56 andcomprises a horizontally extending base plate 8supported on the stand 56by anysuitable mount ing bracket assembly indicated at 59. Means areprovi'd'e'd in the machine to engage the top portion of a bag 30 carriedto the machine on the conveyor 52 or otherwise presented to the machineand initiate movement of the bag through the machine along apredetermined course or path andwhich means comprises a pair ofcollecting wheels 69, 62 mounted in opposed relation for rotation aboutvertical axes. As best shown in FIG. 8, the wheel 60 is providedwith agrooved periphery and the wheel 62 has a cooperative ll-shapedperiphery, the wheels being spaced apart just sufficiently to permit thebag 30 to pass therebetween but to pressurably engage the sides of thebag so as to support the same. The reversed bend of the wheelperipheries tends to hold the bag 30 in position between the wheels sothat it will not slip out. As will be apparent, the wheels 60, 62 alsoprovide means for applying pressure to the opposite sides of a bagadjacent the top thereof to press the same tog'eth'er in a direction atright angles to the direction of movement of the bag.

Means'are provided for driving the wheels 66, 62. Referring moreparticularly to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the wheel 60 is secured to a shaft 66suitably journaled in a shaft mounting sleeve 68 bolted or otherwisesecured'to the plate 58. The shaft 66 extends above the plate 58 and toits upper end is secured a gear 76. The wheel 62 is secured to a shaft72 which like-wise is journaled within a; shaft support sleeve 74supported from the plate 58.

The shaft 72 extends above the plate 58 and to its upper end is secureda gear 76. The power means for the machine comprises an electric motor89 connected by a belt 82 to a jack shaft S4 journaled in brackets 86upon the plate 58. A switch 87 is provided for the motor. A bevel gear88 mounted on the end of the jack shaft 84 drives a-cooperative gear 90mounted upon a vertical shaft 92 upon which is mounted a gear 94- whichmeshes with a gear 96 mounted on a stub shaft 98. The stub shaft 98carries a driving gear 101 which meshes directly with the gear 76 andalso meshes with a gear 162 which drives the gear 70. The gear trainjust described drives other portions of the apparatus as will presentlyappear. 7

Means are provided for feeding a length of tie 34 at right angles to thepath of the bag 30 and in front of the bag top as it emerges frombetween the collector wheels 60, 62. A supply roll 106 of the tiematerial may be mounted in any convenient spot on the machine such as onthe post 56. From the roll 166, the tie material is led through a guide108 and thence between a pair of feed rolls 110,112mounted upon shafts114, 116, respectively, assh'own in FIGS. 11 and 12. The wheel 110 isprovided with a layer of rubber 118 or similar material around itsperiphery and preferably is provided with opposite side plates 120 whichextend beyond the periphery of the layer 118 and between which the wheel112 fits so that the tie material is securely held in place between thewheels. The surface of the wheel 112 may be knurled or otherwiseprovided with a gripping surface. The shaft 114 has fixed thereto a gear122 which meshes with a gear 124 fixed to the shaft 116. The shaft 114is supported upon one end of an arm 126 which is swingably mounted upona shaft 126 extending downwardly from the plate 58; The spring 130 orother resilient means is provided to urge the wheel 11% against thewheel 112. The shaft 116 is suitably journaled in the plate 58.

Means are provided for driving the wheels 110, 112 to feed apredetermined length of strap. With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, suchmeans may comprise an air cylinder 132 having a piston connected to anarm 134 of an overrunning clutch 136 which may be of any conventionaltype arranged so that upon rotation of the arm 134 in a clockwisedirection, the gear 124, will be correspondingly driven in the samedirection to cause the wheels to feed a length of strap and when the arm134 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the wheels 112, 116 willremain stationary. Since such clutches are well known to the art, thedetails thereof are not shown herein. From the wheels 11% 112, the strapis led through a guide channel 140 suitably supported from the frameplate 58 and thence across an anvil block 142, which is rigidlysupported from the frame 58 by a massive support arm 144-, and under atie holding spring 146 (see FIG. 9). Referring to FIG. 13, the end of atie member is fed fromthe anvil block 142 across the path of the bag 30'to a clip 14% mounted on a support arm 15% supported from the frameplate by a shaft 152. Cooperatively arranged with the anvil 142 is aknife 159 mounted on an arm 166 rigidly connected to an arm 161pivotally supported on a shaft 162 depending from the plate 58. The arm161 is connected to the piston rod 163 of an air cylinder 164 so that byoperation of the cylinder, the arms 161, 166 are swung to cause theknife 159 to strike the anvil 142, the knife being positioned so as tosever a tie along the line 171 indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 26.Means hereinafter to be described are provided for operating thecylinder 164.

Means are provided for grasping the top of a bag as it emerges frombetween the wheels 66, 62 so as to carry the bag against a tie member 34positioned in its path and force the tie into a pocket means whichcauses the tie partially to fold about the bag. With reference to FIGS.8, 9 and 13, such bag grasping means comprises a pair of verticallyspaced wheels or stub toothed sprockets 154, 156 mounted upon a shaft158 which is suitably journaled in a supporting sleeve 157. The sprocket154 is positioned below the elevation of the tie member 34 when it isheld in the clips 146, 148 and the sprocket 156 above the elevation ofthe tie member. The sprockets 154, 156 are substantially tangent to theplane of the nip of the wheels 60, 62 and are, therefore, alsosubstantially tangent to the path of the bag 30 as it emerges frombetween the wheels 66, 62, as will be apparent. Mounted in cooperativerelationship with the sprocket wheels 154, 156 are a pair of flexibleelements or chains 165, 166, respectively. The chains 165, 166 aretrained about idler sprockets 167 mounted upon a shaft 168 journaled ina shaft support sleeve 169 secured to one end of a plate 170. The plate170 is attached to a sleeve 172 which is pivotally. mounted upon theshaft ,support 74. Bearing against the opposite end of the plate 175) isan adjustment screw 174 threaded through a bracket176. This permitsadjustment of the position of the shaft 168 to retain the desiredtension on the chains 165, 166. The chains 165, 166 are also trainedabout a pair of sprockets 178 fixed to the shaft 92. The chains 165, 166are arranged to engage the sprockets 154, 156 through about a quarter ofthe circumference of the latter.

With reference to FIGS. 9, l3 and 14, as a bag emerges from between thewheels 60, 62, it will be engaged in the nip between the sprockets 154,156 and the corresponding chains 165, 166 so as to be carriedtherebetween. It will be understood that a bag is fed to the machine sothat the top edge thereof is positioned slightly above the elevation ofthe uppermost chain 16o. As the tie 34 and bag 36 are advanced betweenthe wheels 154, 156 and opposed chains, they are carried into a firstpocket means which causes the tie partially to be folded about theapprooaching edge of the bag and which pocket means will now bedescribed.

The pocket means is defined in part by the anvil 142 which is formedwith a beveled end surface 1%. Mounted in opposed relation to thesurface 196 is a tie holder member 192 which is pivotally supported uponthe shaft 158 between the sprockets 154, 156. The member 192 is providedwith a beveled end surface 194 which defines with the anvil surface 1% aV-shaped pocket as most clearly shown in FIG. 13. The member 132 isbiased against the anvil block 142 by means of a spring 1% connectedbetween a bracket 198 depending from the plate 58 and a riser element289 which extends upwardly from the end of the tie member opposite thesurface 194 as best shown in FIG. 18. The riser element 266 supports aearn 202, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

As shown in the drawings and particularly F168. 13 to 17, inclusive, theend of the member 192 defining the surface 194 extends beyond theperiphery of the sprockets 154, 156 and, accordingly, the member 192will pressurably press the tie member 34- against the surface of the bag36 as it is carried around the sprockets thus to hold the tie in place.As the bag moves around the sprockets, the member E2 will swing with thebag until it hits the projecting finger 284- of the head 2% of anejector assembly and which head forms a stop to arrest movement of themember 192. It will be observed that the chains 165, 166 hold the bag 3%against the sprockets 154, 156 as the latter rotates so that the bag isdirected into a new path substantially at right angles to its pathbetween the collecting wheels 60, 62. The head 2% and tie holder member192 define a second pocket means into which the tie member 34 isinitially pressed as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 15. The head 2%is positioned so that the pocket thus defined is just beyond the pointof divergence of the chains 165, 166 and sprockets 154, 156 so as toreceive the bag top which is moving in a narrow, elongated conditionbetween the sprockets and the chains and cause it to be gathered betweenthe opposite sides of the tie 34. Preferably, the head 266 is formedwith a toe 207 on its inner edge which bends the tie end engaging thesame inwardly for reasons apparent hereinafter.

When the bag has been gathered or compressed into the pocket defined bythe head 2% and member 192, a tie twisting means operates to bring theends of the tie together so as to wrap the same around the gathered bagtop and thereafter twist the ends of the tie together and which meanswill now be described with particular referereuce to FIGS. 19 to 24. Thetie twister comprises an elongate pinion shaft 210 which is supported bybushings 212 beneath a subframe or plate 214 which in turn is suspendedfrom the frame plate 58 by supporting rods 216. The bushings 212 supportthe shaft 21% for longitudinal and rotational movement. To effectlongitudinal movement of the shaft 219, means are provided such as anair cylinder 22% having a piston connected to a rod 222 which is in turnconnected to a yoke 224- attached to the shaft 21%. Means for efiectingoperation of the cylinder 22%? will be described hereinafter.

Means for rotating the shaft 216 comprises a rack 226 mounted to slidein a guide 228 on the underside of the frame 214 as shown in FIG. 20 andadapted to be re ciprocated by an air cylinder 236 to the piston rod ofwhich the rack is connected. Again, the means to operate the cylinder23-3 will be described hereinafter.

Mounted on what shall be termed the forward end of the pinion shaft 210is a twister head 234 which comprises a pair of spaced apart plates 236extending parallel to the axis of the shaft 210. Each of the plates 236is provided with an elongate slot 238 through which extends a pressureshaft 24% which is slidable longitudinally of the slots. Mounted on theends of the shaft 240 are rollers 241. Disposed between the plates 236is a pair of generally forwardly extending, tie pinching fingers 242which as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 are pivotally mounted at one endthereof on the pressure shaft 240 for movement toward and away from eachother. A spring 244 is provided to urge the fingers and pressure shaft240 to a forward position relative to the head 234 and in which positionthe shaft 240 engages the forward ends of the slots 233. Pivotallyconnected at one end, one to each of the fingers, is a pair of links 246which are pivotally connected at their opposite ends by pins 248 to theplates 2%, the latter connection being rearward of the connection of thelinks to the fingers. The axes of the connections of the links 246 areparallel to the axis of the pressure shaft 249. Mounted on the frameplate 214 forwardly of the plates 235 is a ring element 251) which iscoaxial with the pinion shaft 21% The ring 250 is positioned to beengaged by the pressure shaft rollers 241 upon movement of the pinionshaft 21!) toward its forward position. As best indicated in FIGS. 15and 16, the ring 250 is positioned so that it will be engaged by thepressure shaft rollers when the fingers 242 have been moved to aposition straddling the ends of the tie held in the second pocket meansas shown in dotted lines in FIG. 15. Upon further forward movement ofthe pinion shaft 210, the plates 236 will be thrust relatively forwardlywith respect to the fingers 242 inasmuch as the move ment of the latterwill be arrested by the ring. Such forward movement of the plates 236will cause the links 246 to force the fingers 242 together so as topinch the ends or" the tie 34 between the ends of the fingers as shownin FIG. 15, the action of the links in this respect being illustrated inFIGS. 23 and 24. The inward bending of the tie end by the toe 2117 is tomake certain that such end will be between the fingers 242. When thefingers 242 have been brought together so as to bend or wrap the tie 34about the gathered bag top, the motor 23% is actuated to move the rack226 longitudinally and which will thus cause the pinion 210 and twisterhead to rotate causing the tie member to be twisted so as to secure thesame about the top of the bag. Preferably the ends of the tie 34 aretwisted through at least about one and one-half turns to assure the tieis securely attached to the bag.

It will be observed that the pocket defined by the holder 192 and head2% faces substantially at right angles to the plane between thecollector wheels 6t), 62. The pocket is actually at an angle of about110 with respect to such plane and the axis of the twister is coaxialwith the axis of the pocket. The purpose of this arrangement is toposition the tie ends so that they are readily accessible to thetwister. Thus, as the bag proceeds through the machine, the top thereofis gathered, the tie is doubled thereabout, and the bag and tie arerotated about from the initial path of the bag so as to present the endsof the tie to the twister.

Means are provided to eject the bag from the machine after the tie istwisted about the top. As soon as the tie 54- has been twisted andtightened about the bag top, the head 206 is moved to an out-of-the-wayposition topermit the bag 30 to be removed from the machine. The head206 is pivotally mounted about a pin 26% on a bracket 262 suitablysuspended from the frame plate 58. The head 2% is also pivotallyconnected by a pin 264 to the piston rod 266 of an air cylinder 268.When the rack 226 hits the end of its tie twisting stroke, the cylinder268 is actuated by means to be described to retract the piston rod asscausing the head 2% to rotate as shown in FIG. 17. As the head 206rotates, the bag top is propelled by the aoeaera chains 165, 166 towardthe side of the machine so that it may pass around the sprockets 178 asthe bag is carried along by the conveyor 52. The tie ends between thefingers 242 will simply slip from between the fingers since littlepressure is applied to the tie ends by the fingers. As soon as the bag39 is moved past the member 192, the spring 196 will return the member192 to its original position in engagement with the anvil block 142.Thereafter, the cylinder 268 is operated to return the head 2% to itsoriginal position (see FIG. 13). Finally, the cylinder 220 is operatedby means to be described to move the twister assembly to its rearwardposition. As soon as such rearward movement begins, the fingers separateby reason of the urging of the spring 244 which causes the finger endsto cam outwardly and apart.

The pneumatic circuit for operating the various air cylinders of themachine and the sequence of operation of the machine will now bedescribed with particular reference to FIGS. 13 to 17, inclusive, andFIG. which is a schematic drawing of the pneumatic circuit in which thevalves and motors are shown utilizing J.I.C. symbols for pneumaticequipment.

FIG. 13 shows the condition of the machine at the start of a cycle. Inthis condition, a tie member 34 has been severed from a length of tieand is held by the holders 148, 146 across the path of the bag 36)advancing through the machine. As indicated in FIG. 13, as the bag isgrasped by the rollers 60, 62, the opposite sides of the bag are pressedtogether and the top is in fact somewhat elongated and the bag is thenfed lengthwise of the top. into the nip between the sprockets 154, 156and chains 160, 162. The bag is then carried by such sprockets andchains against the tie member 34 and presses the center portion of thetie member into the pocket defined by the member 192 and block 142, thuscausing the tie to double and partially to fold about the leading edgeof the bag (see FIG. 14). As described previously, the bag is carriedaround the periphery of the sprockets 154, 156 and such movement of thebag causes the member 192 to be rotated about its axis until it hits thehead 2%, tie member being carried with the bag into the pocket definedby the member 192 and head 2% as shown in FIG. 15. As the member 192rotates, cam 2tl2 also rotates causing the cam follower 274 to swingclockwise about the pin' 152 (see FIG. 9). The end of the cam follower274 constitutes a trigger 281) which is caused to strike the actuatorpin of a normally closed bleeder valve 232 when the member 192 hits thehead 2%. The valve 282 is connected to one end of the cylinder of a twoposition, four-way button bleeder operated air valve 284. Such valvescomprise a spool mounted within a cylinder having straight-through andcross-over passages therein for alternate alignment with the exitandentrance ports provided in the cylinder wall. Internal restrictedpassages indicated by dotted lines 2% connect the source of air to theopposite ends of the valve cylinder so that upon exhausting air from anddropping the pressure at one end of the cylinder, the spool is shiftedby reason of the greater pressure in the opposite end toward the bledend to align the particular set of passages with the ports in thecylinder wall. An example of such a valve is Modern Air brand valve,Model BV 4 2020.

The valve 284 is connected to a suitable source of air indicated by pump236 and a surge tank 288. Air exhausts from the valve to atmospherethrough either port E. Thus, upon operation of the valve 282 to open thesame, air is exhausted from the left end of the cylinder of the valve284 and the spool thereof shifts to the left causing the cross-oversection of the spool to align with the ports thereof whereupon airpressure from the source is admitted through the port 291 of the aircylinder 132 causing the same to operate to feed a length of tie intothe tie holders 146 and 148. A restriction 292 is positioned in the linefrom the other port 293 of the cylinder 132 so as to slow the stroke ofthe piston thereof and thus slightly delay the advance of a tie acrossthe bag path to make sure that the bag 38 which is being gathered isclear of the path of the tie. At the same time, air is admitted throughthe port 294 of the twister assembly cylinder 220 to cause the twisterassembly to advance toward the tie and bag in the pocket defined by themember 192 and head 296. To give suflicient time for the bag to becompletely gathered before the twister fingers engage the tie ends, arestriction 295 is placed in the line leading from the opposite port 296of the valve. As the fingers 24-2 of the twister close upon the end ofthe tie and the pinion 210 reaches its forward position, a lever 297mounted upon the piston shaft of the motor 220 strikes a normally closedpilot bleeder valve 298 as shown in FIG. 15 to cause the same to bleedair from the left end of a four-way, two position valve 309. This causesthe spool of the valve 300 to shift to the left causing air to pass fromthe pump 286 into the rack cylinder 236 through the port 362 thereof.Admission of air through the port 302 causes the rack 226 to be pushedforwardly rotating the pinion shaft 210 and the twister assembly tocause the tie to be twisted about the top of a bag. As the rack reachesits forward position, an actuator pin 3% carried thereon strikes theoperating button of a normally closed bleeder valve 306 which isconnected to the right end of the valve 284 and left end of a four way,two position valve 308. This has the dual effect of bleeding air fromthe right end of the valve 284 and from the left end of the'valve 308causing the spool of the latter to shift left so as to admit air rom thepump 286 to the ejector air cylinder 268 through port 31% thereof. Thiscauses the cylinder 258 to operate to swing the head 206 as shown inFIG. 17 releasing and ejecting the tied bag from the pocket. Arestriction 311 is provided in the line leading from the opposite port312 of the cylinder 268 to show the action of the same and permit thebag completely to clear the pocket and head 206 before the head isreturned to its original position. When the head 206 is fully retracted,a lever 513 carried on the piston rod of the cylinder strikes theoperating button of a normally closed bleeder valve 314 to open thesame. The lever 313 is also connected through links 316, 318 to thevalve 282 in such manner as to move it to an out-of-the-way positionfrom the trigger 280, as shown in FIG. 17, immediately as the piston ofthe motor 268 begins to move so that the valve 282 may close. Thiscauses the spool of the valve 284 immediately to shift back to the rightto its original position as shown in FIG. 25. and in which position airis fed to the cylinder 229 of the twister motor through the port 296thereof causing the twister assembly immediately to be retracted andwhich, of course, will cause the fingers 242 to be opened. At the sametime the twister returns, air is admitted through the port 293 of thetie feed motor cylinder 132 to cause the tie feed to return to itsoriginal position. When the twister is back to its original position asshown in FIG. 17, the lever 297 strikes the actuating button of ableeder valve 324 to open the valve and bleed air from the right end ofthe valve cylinder 3B0. The bleeder valve 298 will, of course, haveclosed previously so that the spool of the valve 300 shifts left to itsoriginal position shown in FIG. 25 causing air to pass into the rackcylinder 230 through port 326- thereof whereupon the rack will bewithdrawn to its original position. As the rack motor 230 returns to itsoriginal position, the valve 306 will, of course, autoinatically close.

Returning again to the operation of the valve 308, upon shifting of thespool thereof from its initial position, air will be passed into theknife cylinder 164 through port 33% thereof causing the knife 159 to beadvanced against the anvil block 142. whereupon it will sever a lengthof tie 34 from the end of the length of tie material laying across theanvil block. As mentioned previously, when the ejector head 2% reachesits fully open position, the valve 314 is opened by the lever 313. Thiscauses air to bleed from the right end of the valve cylinder 3%8whereupon the valve spool returns to its position as shown in FIG. 25and air is admitted to the port 336 of the knife cylinder 164 towithdraw the knife to the position shown in FIG. 13. Air is alsoadmitted through the port 3112 of the ejector cylinder 268 to cause thehead 26:5 to return to its original position and reposition the valve282 so that it can be engaged by the trigger 280. The restriction 311will, of course, slow down the return movement of the head 2% whichagain is advantageous in permitting full removal of the tied bag. Atthis point the machine has returned to its position as shown in FIG. 13and is ready to receive a new bag for processing.

While the machine has been described with particular reference toplacing ties about the tops of bags, it will be apparent that it may beadapted to gathering and bundling pliant sheet material in otherorganizations.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodi ment of theinvention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim asmy invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for twisting a tie about the top of an open mouth bagcomprising means for feeding a bag along a predetermined path, means forpositioning a tie transversely of said path, means for gathering the topportion of said bag and pressing the same against said tie so aspartially to fold said tie about said top portion, and a tie-twister forengaging the ends of said tie and twisting the same together about thebag top.

2. Apparatus for positioning and securing a tie comprising a length ofmalleable wire disposed between opposite fiat strips of paper or thelike about the top of an open bag comprising means for feeding a bagalong a predetermined path, means for feeding across said path a lengthof said tie with the plane of said tie extending normal to said bagpath, means for gathering the top portion of said bag and pressing thesame against said length of tie so as partially to fold said tie aboutsaid gathered bag top portion, and means for twisting the doubled endsof said tie together.

3. In a machine for twisting a tie about a bag, bag feeding means forinitiating movement of said bag through said machine along apredetermined line, a twister mounted adjacent the path of said bag forengaging the ends of a tie extending in a direction transverse to saidline, means for positioning a length of tie in the path of said bag soas to be engaged by the top portion of said bag, means for gathering thetop of said bag and feeding the same against said tie so as partially tofold said tie thereabout, means for completing the doubling of said tieabout said bag and presenting the same with said tie ends extendingtransverse to said line so as to present said tie ends to said twister,and means to operate said twister to engage the ends of said doubled tieand twist the same.

4. A machine for wrapping a tie about the top of a bag comprising meansfor advancing a bag along a predetermined path, means in said pathdefining a pocket, means for positioning a tie transversely of said pathforwardly of said pocket, means for gathering the top portion of saidbag and pressing said bag and tie into said pocket so as partially tofold the tie about the bag, a tie twister, and means for actuating saidtwister to engage the ends of said tie and twist the same together.

5. In a machine for placing a tie about the top of a bag, means forcarrying a bag along a predetermined path, means for positioning asubstantially straight tie across the path of travel of said bag, meansto engage the opposite sides of said bag adjacent the top thereof andpress the same together to narrow the width of said top in the directionat right angles to the direction of travel of said 10 bag, means to feedsaid narrowed top lengthwise against said tie so as to gather said bagtop thereagainst and fold said tie about said top, means to engage theends of said tie and bring them together to wrap said tie about saidbag, and means to twist said tie ends about one another to secure saidtie in place.

6. A machine for wrapping a tie about the top of an open bag comprisingmeans for advancing a bag along a predetermined path, means in said pathdefining a pocket, means for positioning a substantially straight tietransversely of said path forwardly of said pocket, means to engage theopposite sides of said bag adjacent the top thereof to press the sametogether in the direction at right angles to said path, means forpressing said bag and said tie into said pocket so as to gather said bagin said pocket and partially fold the tie about the bag, a tie-twister,and means for actuating said twister to engage the ends of said tie andtwist the same together to secure said tie about the top of said bag.

7. In a machine for twisting a tie about a bag, means for advancing abag along a predetermined path, a twister mounted adjacent said path forengaging the ends of a tie extending substantially at right angles tosaid path, means for positioning a length of tie so as to be engaged bythe top portion of a bag as it is advanced in said path, means forgathering the top of said bag and doubling said tie thereabout, meansfor turning said bag and tie to present the ends of the latter to saidtwister, and means to operate said twister to engage the ends of saiddoubled tie and twist the same.

8. In a machine for twisting a tie about a bag, means for advancing abag along a predetermined path, a twister mounted adjacent saidadvancing means movable in a path transverse to the direction of saidfirst mentioned path between operative and inoperative positions, meansfor feeding a tie at right angles to said bag path, means for gatheringthe top of said bag and doubling said tie thereabout, means for turningsaid bag and tie to present the ends of the latter to said twister, andmeans to move said twister into said operative position and to engagesaid tie ends and twist the same.

9. In a bag tying machine, collecting means to receive a vertical, opentop bag and press the top of a pair of the opposite sides of said bagtogether and advance said bag lengthwise of said sides, means forfeeding a tie at right angles to the path of said bag and in front ofsaid bag top as it emerges from said collecting means, means forpartially folding said tie about the approaching bag, wheel meanspositioned to engage a side surface of said bag as it emerges from saidcollecting means, means for driving said wheel means, means to hold saidbag against said wheel means as the same rotates so that said bag is.directed into a new path substantially at right angles to said paththrough said collector means, means to hold said tie against said bag asthe same rotates with said wheel means, means in said new path andadjacent said Wheel means operative to define a pocket for receiving andholding the mid portion of said tie whereby the top portion of a bag isfed and compressed by said wheel means into said pocket and against saidtie, a tie twister adjacent said pocket for engaging the ends of saidtie and twisting the same together, and means to actuate said tietwister.

10. In a bag tying machine, a pair of opposed collector wheels to engagea bag adjacent the .top thereof and cornpress the opposite sides of saidbag together as it passes between said wheels, wheel means tangential tothe plane between said collector wheels and positioned to engage a sidesurface of said bag emerging from said first wheels, pressing meansmounted in cooperative relation with said wheel means to press said bagthereagainst through about a quarter turn of said wheel means so thatsaid bag is directed into a new path substantially at right angles tosaid plane, means for driving said collector wheels and said wheelmeans, means in said new path adjacent said wheel means operative todefine a V-shaped pocket, means forwardly of said pocket for feeding atie into the path of said bag whereby the top portion of said bag iscompressed into said pocket and against said tie, a tie twister adjacentsaid pocket for engaging the ends of said tie to bring the same togetherso that said tie surrounds said bag top portion together, and means foractuating said tie twister.

11. In a bag tying machine, collecting means to receive a vertical opentop bag and compress a pair of opposite sides of said bag together andadvance said bag lengthwise of said sides, means for feeding a tie atright angles to the path of said bag and in front of said bag top as itemerges from said collecting means, means defining a pocket forreceiving said tie and partially folding the same about the approachingbag, said means including a fixed member and a cooperating tie holdermember mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a pair ofcoaxial, vertically spaced wheels positioned to engage a side surface ofsaid bag as it enters said pocket, said second pair of wheels beingpositioned one above and one below said pocket means, a pair of endlessflexible elements mounted in cooperative relation one with each of saidsecond pair of wheels to press said bag thereagainst, .the engagement ofsaid flexible elements with said wheels extending substantially from thepoint of tangency of said second wheels with said plane through an arcof about 90", said tie holder member being pivotal about said axis andbeing slightly longer than the diameter of said wheels whereby it willpressurably engage said tie against the surface of said bag as thelatter is carried between said wheels and flexible elements through thearc of engagement thereof, stop means adjacent the end of said are toengage said tie holder member and cooperatively therewith to define aV-shaped second pocket for receiving the mid portion of'said tie,'saidsecond pocket being just beyond the point of divergence of said flexibleelements and said second wheels whereby the top portion of a bag is fedand compressed into said pocket and against said tie, a tie twistercomprising a pair of fingers, means to cause said fingers to engage theends of said tie while the same is in said second pocket and bring thesame together so that said tie surrounds said bag top portion, and meansthereafter to rotate said fingers to twist said tie ends together.

12. In a bag tying machine, a pair of opposed collec tor wheels mountedfor rotation about vertical axes to engage a bag adjacent the topthereof and compress. the opposite sides of said bag together as itpasses between said wheels, means for driving said collector wheels,means for feeding a tie at right angles to the path of said bag and infront of said bag top as it emerges from said wheels, means defining apocket for receiving said tie and partially folding the same about theapproaching bag, said pocket means including a fixed member and r acooperating tie holder member mounted for pivotal movement about avertical axis, a second pair of vertically spaced wheels coaxial withsaid axis and tangential to the plane between said collector wheels andpositioned to engage a side surface of said bag as it enters saidpocket, said second pair of wheels being positioned one above and onebelow said pocket means, a pair of endless flexible elements mounted'incooperative relation one with each of said second pair of wheels topress said bag thereagainst, the engagement of said flexible elementswith said wheels extending substantially from the point of tangency ofsaid second wheels with said plane through an arc of about 90, means fordriving said second pair of wheels and said flexible elements, said tieholder member being pivotal about said axis and being slightly longerthan the diameter of said wheels whereby it will pressurably engage saidtie against the surface of said bag as the latter is carried betweensaid, second pair of wheels and flexible elements through the arc ofengagement thereof, stop means adjacent the end of said are to engagesaid tie holder member and cooperatively therewith to define a V-shapedsecond pocket for receiving the mid portion of said tie, said secondpocket being just beyond the point of divergence of said flexibleelements and said second wheels whereby the top portion of a bag is fedand compressed into said pocket and against said tie, a tie twistercomprising a pair of fingers, means to cause said fingers to engage theends of said tie while the same is in said second pocket and bring thesame together so that said tie surrounds said bag top portion, and meansthereafter to rotate said fingers to twist "said tie ends together.

13.'ln a bag tying machine a twister for pinching and twisting togetherthe ends of a tie, said twister comprising a frame, a shaft mounted onsaid frame for movement longitudinally of its axis and for rotationabout said axis, means for moving said shaft longitudinally between aforward operative position and a rearward inoperative position, atwister head mounted on the forward end of said shaft comprising a pairof tie pinching fingers, means pivotally mounting said fingers by oneend on said head for movement toward and away from each other, theopposite ends of said fingers extending generally forwardly of saidhead, said fingers being bodily movable relative to said head in adirection parallel to said shaft axis between a forward position and arearward position, means operatively arranged between said head and saidfingers to move the same together when said fingers are moved to saidrearward position thereof and to move said fingers apart when saidfingers are moved to said forward position thereof, resilient meansurging said fingers to said forward position, means .to engage saidfinger mounting means and arrest movement of said fingers upon forwardmovement of said shaft and said twister head whereby said fingers moverelatively rearwardly with respect to said head and are thus movedtogether, and means to rotate said shaft.

14. In a bag tying machine a twister for pinching and twisting togetherthe ends of a tie, said twister comprising a frame, a pinion shaftmounted on said frame for movement longitudinally of its axis and forrotation about said axis, means for moving said pinion shaftlongitudinally between a forward operative position and a rearwardinoperative position, a twister head mounted on the forward end of saidpinion shaft comprising a pair of spaced apart plates extending parallelto said axis, each of said plates having an elongate slot thereinparallel to said axis, a pressure haft extending through said slots andoutwardly beyond said plates, said pressure shaft being movablelongitudinally of said slots, a pair of generally forwardly extendingfingers disposed between said plates and pivotally mounted at one endthereof on said pressure shaft for movement to and from each other,sprin means operatively arranged between said fingers and said plates tourge said fingers and pressure shaft forwardly relative to said pinionshaft, a pair of links pivotally connected at one end one to each ofsaid fingers and at their opposite ends to said plates outwardly of saidfingers and rearwardly of their connection to said fingers for pivotalmovement about axes parallel to the axis of said pressure shaft, a ringelement on said frame coaxial with said pinion shaft and encircling saidfingers forwardly of said pressure shaft and positioned to engage saidpressure shaft and arrest movement thereof upon movement of said pinionshaft toward said forward position whereby said fingers will be movedtogether upon continued movement of said head, and means to rotate saidpinion shaft.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,711,278 Gray June 21, 1955 2,762,179 Young Sept. 11, 1956 2,867,066Platt Jan. 6, 1959 2,898,817 Lutz Aug. 11, 1959

1. APPARATUS FOR TWISTING A TIE ABOUT THE TOP OF AN OPEN MOUTH BAGCOMPRISING MEANS FOR FEEDING A BAG ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, MEANS FORPOSITIONING A TIE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PATH, MEANS FOR GATHERING THE TOPPORTION OF SAID BAG AND PRESSING THE SAME AGAINST SAID TIE SO ASPARTIALLY TO FOLD SAID TIE ABOUT SAID TOP PORTION, AND A TIE-TWISTER FORENGAGING THE ENDS OF SAID TIE AND TWISTING THE SAME TOGETHER ABOUT THEBAG TOP.